As judges for the 2004 California Coastal Commission Art and
Poetry Contest went through the more than 1,700 entries, there was
one piece of art they suspected, but it ended up winning the grand
prize.
As judges for the 2004 California Coastal Commission Art and Poetry Contest went through the more than 1,700 entries, there was one piece of art they suspected, but it ended up winning the grand prize.
“We were all amazed that it was actually done by a student,” Coordinator Annie Kohut Frankel said. “The way she did the pastels, you felt like you were actually looking through the water and the whale was really moving.”
Frankel is talking about the pastel drawing “Mighty Blue” and its creator Lindsay Walatka, a junior at San Benito High School. The drawing, which took the 17-year-old roughly six class periods to finish, won first place in the 10th to 12th grade category. The contest was open to schools throughout California and challenged young artists to reflect on the beauty and spirit of California’s beaches and ocean. The California Coastal Commission was hoping to inspire a greater sense of stewardship for nature, according to Frankel.
Walatka said, what inspired her was a National Geographic magazine.
“Often times, if I’m looking for ideas, I’ll pick one up and thumb through it,” she said.
Along with the recognition of having her artwork on the commission’s Web site at www.coastforyou.org, Walatka received a $100 gift certificate for art supplies. Walatka has been expressing her artistic side since she was a pint size painter.
“My mom is an artist so I have been around art all my life,” she said.
“Mighty Blue” started with just a flat scene of three blue whales, and it wasn’t until Lindsay added her touch and highlighting that it truly came to life, according to teacher John Robrock.
“When I’m drawing I never think I’m done with a piece, but I stop because I don’t want to end up messing it up,” she said.
Knowing exactly what to add, and exactly when to stop landed Walatka another art award this semester. Her drawing called “Where the Small Mind Grows” won a first place in the River Awards competition, which is another art and poetry contest combining art and nature together. At one point Walatka thought the drawing was finished, but after analyzing it and discussing with classmates, she realized there was one minor detail she needed to add in order to have a masterpiece.
“It looked good, but then we thought about adding some little white flowers to highlight it, and it was like it came to life,” she said.
Although no two artists are alike, Walatka’s artwork does encompass the characteristics she admires in her favorite artist’s work.
“I really like DiVinci’s style,” she said. “It’s so soft and intricate.”
After SBHS, Walatka hopes to attend the Art Academy of San Francisco and later become an illustrator for children’s books. Robrock said with her talent and focus, she will definitely go far.
“She has a lot of talent and is very focused,” he said. “It’s always great to see a student come up from the beginning and develop, but Lindsay was already good. We just refined her a bit.”
Walatka’s award-winning work and many others can be viewed at Hollister’s Art League Open Studios weekend April 24-25 at the YMCA on Fifth Street.
